Mac OS 10.6.8http://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/12025/all
enAdobe InDesign CS6 Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/adobe_indesign_cs6_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>The term “desktop publishing” no longer holds quite the same allure it did when PageMaker started a revolution on the Macintosh. More than 25 years later, print media is at a crossroads, with readers turning to tablets for consuming content once strictly confined to paper. With InDesign CS6, Adobe has finally hit its stride after years of trying to shoehorn digital media features into traditional print software, often with awkward results.<br /><br />While Adobe InDesign CS6 doesn’t offer the same kind of showy, “gee whiz” features as the latest version of Photoshop, it still manages to impress. Some of its new tricks are so obvious you’ll wonder why they took so long, such as the ability to create PDF form fields, or the incredibly overdue list of recently used fonts, a small but time-saving tweak.</p><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/06/id-split-view.jpg" width="620" height="382" /><br /><strong>For designers who need to compare different layouts from the same elements, the new split-screen page view is a godsend.</strong></p><p>Liquid Layout is InDesign CS6’s marquee feature, allowing designers to easily repurpose content for alternate layouts and save them all within the same file. While its most obvious use is for adapting portrait pages to horizontal view when published on rotation-friendly devices like the iPad, Liquid Layout also comes in handy for artists who need to present alternatives to a client or rework marketing materials to different dimensions.<br /><br />Although Adobe would have us believe that Liquid Layout grows from magic, designers will have to do a bit of legwork at the front end, specifying how key elements will be pinned to the layout before it gets revised. This new tool can be a bit daunting at first, but the initial effort pays for itself in the long run.<br /><br />InDesign CS6 also introduces a split view for quickly comparing two page designs, eliminating the need to jump between open tabs when making final tweaks. Perhaps our favorite new feature of InDesign CS6 is the ability to link content, so changes made in one location can be applied to all others, whether in the same document or a completely different one.</p><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/06/id-auto-text-frame.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p><strong>At long last, InDesign allows text frames to automatically grow to fit type as it's entered.</strong><br /><br />The remainder of InDesign CS6’s new features may seem modest at first glance, but they’ve already made a dramatic impact on our own workflow. Text frames can finally be set up to expand in one or more directions as additional text is added, and designers can now choose a key object prior to performing an alignment, forcing other elements to adjust around it. Little changes like this make InDesign even more of a joy to use.<br /><br />Finally, InDesign CS6 also offers proper grayscale preview and PDF export for controlling how layouts will print on a monochrome laser printer or even a black-and-white device like the Amazon Kindle, while layouts can be exported to the lossless PNG format, with transparency intact.<br /><br /><strong>The bottom line.</strong> We’ve used InDesign from the beginning (and PageMaker before it), so it does our hearts good to see Adobe add new superpowers while beefing up its existing abilities. InDesign CS6 is a compelling upgrade that at last manages to unite traditional and digital media layout tools in one impressive package.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.adobe.com" target="_blank">Adobe InDesign CS6</a></p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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Adobe </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.adobe.com" target="_blank">www.adobe.com</a></p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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$699 full, $249 upgrade for users of CS3 through CS5, $125 upgrade for users of CS5.5; also available as part of Creative Cloud ($49.99/month) and Creative Suite 6 collections ($1,299 and up) </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Multicore Intel processor, Mac OS 10.6.8 or later, 1GB RAM (2GB recommended), 2.6GB available hard disk space, 1024x768 display (1280x800 recommended) with 16-bit video card.</p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Feature set nicely balanced between traditional print and digital publishing tools. Alternate layout and linked content allow designers to keep multiple layouts within a single file. Improved ePub creation features.</p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Liquid Layout tools require patience during initial setup. UI remains white, unlike Photoshop and other key CS6 applications. Fewer "must-have" features for print designers who already own CS5.5.</p> </div>
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http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/adobe_indesign_cs6_review#commentsReviewsAdobeCS6indesigniPod and iPhoneMac OS 10.6.8Multicore Intel processorsoftwareiPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 05 Jul 2012 16:03:52 +0000J.R. Bookwalter14430 at http://www.maclife.comAdobe Illustrator CS6 Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/adobe_illustrator_cs6_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Adobe Illustrator has long been the choice for illustration professionals, designers, and anyone who wants to work with infinitely scalable vector graphics. Over the years it’s gained some highly impressive features, such as mesh tools for drawing photorealistic objects, perspective tools for taking the pain out of vanishing points, and much, much more. So, what can CS6 bring? Oh, just plenty of new features and an all-new interface.<br /><br />The charcoal-gray interface, like Photoshop’s by default, gives Illustrator a more refined, professional feel. If it’s a little much, you can change the interface color via Preferences (unlike Photoshop’s theme-based approach). It’s a minor, but lovely touch. But the real thing you notice about Illustrator is its blazing fast speed. Mainly thanks to the Mercury Performance System and native 64-bit support, complex documents with meshes, gradients, and many points can be manipulated with relative ease. Redraw certainly seems snappier as well.</p><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/06/mac248.rev_premcs6.illus_1.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p><strong>Designers will love the easy-to-use, extremely powerful pattern tools. </strong><br /><br />Beyond the speed improvements, Illustrator brings new and improved features to the table. The most notable is undoubtedly the new pattern creation tools. Creating a tiled pattern and editing it is now extremely easy: open or draw an object that you want to be repeated and then go to Object &gt; Pattern &gt; Make. Your object then repeats on the art board. The Pattern Options panel lets you control the pattern, with a really handy slider enabling you to dim your instances so you can work on and edit the original object. As you edit, the repeats update. The pattern is automatically added to the Swatches panel and updates when you click Done in pattern creation mode. You can choose to save a copy to add another swatch to the Swatches panel. But the best thing? Double-clicking the swatch in the Swatches panel lets you go back to edit the pattern. When you update it, it updates any object the pattern is applied to. It’s quite brilliant, and textile artists, designers, and illustrators who use patterns will absolutely love it. <br /><br />The other big feature is the removal of Live Trace--it’s been replaced with a new bitmap tracing engine called Image Trace. Now, don’t expect this to magically turn any photos into vector artwork, but it does a pretty good job. And you have more options for tracing than ever before. The tool is controlled by the context-sensitive Control panel or the new Image Trace panel, and you can apply presets or tweak settings manually. Image Trace is a powerful replacement for the often hit-and-miss Live Trace, and when you do need it, it comes in very handy.</p><p><img src="/files/u325188/2012/06/mac248.rev_premcs6.illus_2.jpg" width="620" height="388" /></p><p><strong>Image Trace is a replacement for Live Trace, and admirably turns bitmaps into vector art.</strong><br /><br />The final addition of note is the ability to add gradients to strokes. We don’t know why this wasn’t in previous versions, but it’s a welcome addition, especially for those designing photorealistic vector artwork. There’s also some tweaks to the Gaussian Blur effect and minor panel updates, including a Scale Strokes &amp; Effects checkbox added to the Transform panel. <br /><br /><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Illustrator remains hugely powerful, and a tool that is reliable, fast (as long as you have a good amount of RAM), and pretty much vital to any creative pro. The new pattern creation features are a joy to use, and the speed of this version alone will impress any daily user of the app.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.adobe.com" target="_blank">Illustrator CS6</a></p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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Adobe </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.adobe.com" target="_blank">www.adobe.com</a></p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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$599 full, $249 upgrade for users of CS3 through CS5; also available as part of Creative Cloud ($49.99/month) and Creative Suite 6 collections ($1,299 and up) </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Multicore Intel processor with 64-bit support, Mac OS 10.6.8 or later, 2GB RAM (8GB recommended), 2GB available hard disk space, 1024x768 display (1280x800 recommended) with 16-bit video card.</p> </div>
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<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Slick new interface. Fast! Powerful pattern creation tools. Better bitmap tracking tools. Gradients on strokes.</p> </div>
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<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
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<!--paging_filter--><p>Novices will find toolset baffling.</p> </div>
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http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/adobe_illustrator_cs6_review#commentsReviewsAdobeCreative Suite 6CS6Design and GraphicsIllustratorIllustrator CS6Mac OS 10.6.8Multicore Intel processoriPadiPhoneiPodMacWed, 04 Jul 2012 16:01:20 +0000Rob Carney14431 at http://www.maclife.com